“Natural Foods Drive The State’s Bear Population

“Our biologists have conducted four decades of field research and have intensively monitored more than 3,000 individual bears. We monitor cub and yearling survival and weights, adult survival and health, age when females give birth and litter size, and the size and weight of all bears.

The research shows that natural foods drive the state’s bear population. Maine’s population is increasing because of several years of low hunter harvest and improving habitat that provides more natural foods.

Our studies show that in years of low natural food availability, bears enter their dens earlier, fewer cubs survive and yearling bears put on significantly less weight, although bait is still present on the landscape. Some bears even enter their dens during the baiting season because of the lack of natural foods.”<<<Read More>>>